About Safeguarding

Helping to ensure children are playing golf in a safe environment

Millions of children are involved with sport, at all levels of participation and competition, and in all sorts of situations. Sport has a responsibility to ensure their welfare and safety against harm, and golf is taking this responsibility very seriously.

There are a number of ways that risks may present themselves to children participating in sport, not just in golf:

Bullying of children by their peers or by adults

Individuals exploiting their position to gain access to children

Placing unrealistic performance expectations on children

Lacking awareness of the needs for safeguarding

Poor planning

Everyone in golf has a part to play in safeguarding children – at home, at school, in the park, at the club. The Children Act 1989 and Working Together to Safeguard Children (DOH 2006) highlight the shared responsibility of organisations to promote children’s wellbeing and safeguard them from harm.

Lead Child Protection Officer for Wales Golf

Diane Davies is the Wales Golf Lead Child Protection Officer, if you have any queries or would like to discuss any issue related to child protection, please contact her on 07923 065317 or Sian Simmons, Safeguarding Co-ordinator via email at sian.simmons@walesgolf.org or by telephone 01633 436040.

Sian Simmons, Administrator for Wales Golf is responsible for DBS checks, if you have any questions regarding the DBS process please contact her via e-mail at sian.simmons@walesgolf.org or by telephoning 01633 436048.

For details on Wales Golf Safeguarding Support for Club Volunteers and Professionals please download the document below

Club Welfare Officer

The SafeGolf Strategic Group (SGSG) recommends that all counties and clubs with junior members should appoint and train a Club Welfare Officer (CWO).

For information on the role of Club Welfare Officer and job description click here

To accompany the Safeguarding Policy the policies/procedures listed in the Safe Club checklist (see download below) also need to be in place.

Training and Education

UK Coaching Safeguarding and Protecting Children Workshops are available to those involved with junior golf. It is universally recognised within sport and local authorities as an appropriate form of training for sports coaches and volunteers.

The workshop is aimed at Golf Professionals, Junior Organisers, Volunteers, Club Welfare Officers and Secretary/Managers. At the workshop, attendees will:

•Discuss what constitutes good and poor practice
•Discuss a range of child protection issues and scenarios
•Be given information on how to respond to an incident or allegation
•Receive a certificate of attendance